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Activity: Cryptex Decoding Challenge
Objective:
To practice reading comprehension, vocabulary, and decoding skills by deciphering coded sentences related to the reading passage.
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Materials Needed:
- A selected reading passage (related to current lesson or unit)
- Pre-prepared coded sentences from the passage
- Optional: Printable Cryptex worksheets or digital version on the LMS
Instructions
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Preparation:
- Choose 5-7 key sentences from the reading passage.
- Encode each sentence using a simple substitution cipher (e.g., each letter replaced by the letter that comes three places after it in the alphabet, or assign each letter a unique symbol or number).
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Explain the Activity:
- Tell learners they will be decoding sentences from the reading passage using their knowledge of vocabulary and context clues.
- Provide them with a key for the cipher (e.g., "Each letter has been replaced by the letter three positions down the alphabet.").
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Break Down the Challenge:
- Divide learners into small groups or pairs and give each team 1-2 coded sentences.
- If working individually, each learner can decode all the sentences on their own.
- Ask students to decode each sentence and write the original sentence from the reading passage.
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Add an Extra Challenge (Optional):
- Time the activity to see which group or individual can decode all sentences accurately first.
- For more advanced students, use a more complex cipher or provide a hint rather than the full cipher key.
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Check and Discuss:
- After decoding, have each group or student read their decoded sentences aloud.
- Discuss how context and vocabulary knowledge helped in solving the sentences.
- If time allows, have students create their own coded sentences based on the reading passage for others to decode.
Example:
Original Sentence from Passage:
- “Learning a new language opens up many opportunities.”
Encoded Sentence (Using Caesar Cipher, Shift by 3):
- “Ohduqlqj d qhz odqjxdjh rsbqv xs pdqb rssruwxqlwlhv.”
Students would decode back to:
- “Learning a new language opens up many opportunities.”
Assessment:
- Vocabulary Comprehension: Check if students could recognize and reconstruct vocabulary from the passage.
- Team Collaboration (if applicable): Observe how well students worked together to solve the challenge.
- Time Taken: Note completion time for extra motivation in future challenges.
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